Now the intervals between the daily stages are getting a little longer, as we soon want to cross the border into Ecuador. The next stop is in Silvia, a Colombian mountain village in the department of Cauca. A visit to the town is particularly worthwhile on Tuesdays when the weekly market is held in Silvia’s market hall. Quite unexpectedly, we are also given a guided tour of the market and an introduction to the various indigenous tribes that are very common in the hilly regions of Colombia.

Weekly market in Silvia

As soon as we arrive in Silvia, we are greeted by Kika and Anouar at their beautiful campsite a few kilometers from Silvia. They immediately tell us that the highlight is the next day and that we should definitely go to the weekly market with Kika. We have rarely received such a friendly welcome, so we gladly agree and are not disappointed.

The indigenous people living around Silvia come to the market center from many of the surrounding valleys to sell vegetables, fruit and handicrafts. On the other hand, the many market visitors stock up on the goods they need to load them onto the Chiva buses. The colorful buses reach even the remotest corners of Colombia and are therefore perfect for transporting goods and people to and from their mountain settlements. The people in the front, the various purchases in the back and on the roof – this is the order for cargo on the Chiva buses throughout Colombia.

At the weekly market in Silvia, we see a wide variety of fruit and vegetables. Of course, the range doesn’t stop there. A large selection of meat and a little less fish are also available for inspection and purchase. Finally, there is also a large market area for clothes, hats and craft supplies such as tools, machetes and machine parts. It feels like the everybody of Silvia is at the market to take part in the lively exchange of goods. The Silvia market is rounded off by the presence of shamans. Shamans are still an important part of the indigenous peoples’ medical care today. People stand in a queue and gradually share their ailments. The shaman then prescribes them a herbal remedy and or treats the person spiritually for rapid relief from their ailments.

For us tourists, the hustle and bustle is a spectacle and we could watch the people all day long. The indigenous people stand out from the crowd with their traditional clothing. Indigo blue ponchos with pink seams and black melons suit the indigenous people well, but they are also important distinguishing features to differentiate the different tribes. We have the feeling that the market in Silvia is the most authentic weekly market we have seen so far on this trip. Even today, the market is still there for the local population and not just for tourism. This makes a visit to the market a lot of fun and we will remember it fondly.

That says it all about our visit to Silvia. We spend a few more days in the region to visit a good mechanic to get our vehicle ready for the upcoming passage south in South America. Otherwise, we enjoy Anouar and Kika’s beautiful garden. Other travelers, some of whom we meet again and again during our journey, provide a welcome change.